Roller-skate



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

LQR. CLARK.

l ROLLRR SKATR.

No; 301,676. Patented July a, 1884.

(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. CLARK.'

v AROIIIJIR SKATE. No. 301,676. A 'PatentedvJuly 8, Y1884.

firmen.,

ALVIN B; OIJARK, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.-

ROLLER-SKATE.

CJPECIFICAIIQN forming part of'Letters'Patent No. 301,676, dated July 8, 1884.

Application filed March 1l, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALvIN B. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Wayne and Stateof Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates tocertain new and useful improvements in roller-skates; and it con- Isist-s in attaching to the bodyof thev skate rollers in such a-inanner that thebody of the skate willhave a lateral rocking movement to conform to the various positions of fthe skaters foot, and, further, by the manner of attachment a certain degree of elasticity is obtained,which is highly important in a durable, easy-working, and perfect skate. The object rof my invention is, first, to construct a skate that will have an elastic metallic bed-piece; second, to attach to the same rollers that are formed plain or with elastic tires; third, to conneetsaid rollers to the nnder face of a body or foot part in such a manner that one or more maybe held to the front and rear of the skate-body, and one or more be held tothe center or midway of said body, and said connection may be either rigid or elastic; fourth, to form a roller-skate with' one or more rollers at each end of the body of the skate, and one or more about midway the same, in such a manner that the middle rollers will only have a hearingwhen the body of the skate is rocked laterally; iiith, to arrange the rollers either centrally or at the ends of the skate-body `in such a manner as to permit the body of the skate to have. a Vrocking lateral movement, while the under face of the rollers have a level bearing; sixth, to so arrange said rollers on the under face of the skate-body that two of the same may be in front and one in the rear, or that two may be in the rear and one in front in the form of a tricycle; seventh, to prevent the binding or tendency to straight lines while the skater is turning or performing various evolntions on said skates. I attain these objects by means of thepeculiar arrangement and, construction of the various parts of my device, which will be more fully pointed out and described in .the specification and claims, reference being had tothe drawings accompany- (No'model.)

pin, spring, elastic packing, and manner of l attachment to body-plate. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing two rollers attached to each end of skate-body; andFig. 5 is a perspective view showing one roller attached to front of body, and two rollers attached to the rear, forming a tricycle.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Referring" to the drawings, A represents a roller-skate formed after or in accordance with my'invention, the body or upper part, B, being formed of any suitable material, (preferably of Wood,) and of any desirable shape.

To the under face of body B is secured a metal plate, C, saidrplate being formed of sufficient thickness to be durable and slightly elastic. Between said body B and plate O is placed elastic packing or pads, to prevent jarring while the skate is in use.

Brackets or bearings a and a are formed to receive the wheels or rollers D, their lower surfaces to plate C by means of bolts f. The

central bracket, I), is formed double to inclose two rollers, E. Said rollers are formed similar to rollers D, and have like central perforations to loosely fit on bearing pins e', said pins or bolts being screw-threaded, like bolts e.

Said `bracket b is formed with vertical projections having sorew-thread perforations to receive bolts c. The-upper portion of bracket b is formed with a central elongated perforation, b3, adapted to loosely receive pin or bolt b4. One endof said bolt is formed screw-threaded I OCI Aplate C, around a perforation formed in said plate to receive said bolt. A short metallic receiving-bracket, c, having pcrforations to lreceive boltsc, by which it is held to plate 0,

is formed with angular projecting flanges, between which the upper partk of bracket b rests,

- .a'iieXible pad, c2, being inserted between said brackets, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, said pad being formed-of rubber or other suitable material, said bracket and pad being centrally perforated to receive bolt b4. This form of construction is usually placed midway between theends of body B and plate G, as shown in Figs. l and 2; Vbut in other forms of construction, when desirable, said bracket b may be placed at either end of plate C, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The` great advantage of this construction over skates where therollerbrackets are rigidly secured to the skate-body is that the body of the skate accommodates itself to the foot of the wearer, and permits of an easy and free movement in any direction desired. When the oscillating bracket b is used near the cen ter of body B,with a single roller in front and rear. while moving in a straight line the rollers E do not touch the iioor, pavement, or surface on which rollers D move, but the moment a turn or curve is made then one or the other of rollers E touches the surface, bears a portion of the weight, and aids in turning, and

prevents the slipping that usually occurs with rollers in frontand rear. Retaining-straps d and d7 are secured to the body B inthe usual manner, by which the skate is held to the operators feet. Rollers D and E are formed of any suitable material, (preferably of wood,) and may be used plain, or their peripheries may be covered with elastic bands F, which may be shrunk into concavities formed in said peripheries, or may be attached in any other suitable manner. Said tires or bands F may be formed of rubber or any other elastic material.

Havingthus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination, with the body of the skate and the plate secured thereto, of the double bracket having rollers mounted on independent shafts, and secured to the plate by means of a screw bolt passing through an elongated slot in the bracket between the rollers, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the body of the skate with the double bracket b, having rollers independently mounted therein, connecting-bolt Lt, and spring If', substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the plate attached to the body of the skate, of the double bracket brand rollers E, the intervening elastic pad c?, and theconnecting-bolt and spiral spring, substantially as specified.

4. rlhe combination, with-thev body ofthe skate and the metallic plate having intervening elastic pads, of the end brackets and rollers, the intermediate double bracket, and independently-mounted rollers, and the elastic connections, whereby the bracket is secured to theplates, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN B. CLARK.

Witnesses:

Jos. C. RATLIFF,

ROBERT F. FURNAs. 

